Abū Ja'far Muhammad ibn Alī also narrates from Jābir ibn Abd Allah the lengthy hadith concerning the rites of Hajj, which is the finest account transmitted on this subject. Through this same chain, Muslim narrated it in his Sahīh through Ja'far ibn Muhammad [from his father] (1), from Jābir (2).
Secondly (3): None of these men, apart from Alī—may Allah be pleased with him (4)—met the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—while old enough to exercise discernment. Alī is a reliable and truthful authority (5) in what he reports from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—just as the other Companions like him are reliable and truthful in what they too report from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. The Prophet’s Companions—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—[and all praise belongs to Allah] (6) are among the most truthful of people in what they relate from him. None of them is known to have deliberately lied about him, although occasional faults did occur among them; they had sins and were not infallible. Nonetheless, an examination was indeed conducted (7)
(1) The words “from his father” are absent from manuscripts (B), (A), (N), and (M).
(2) After the word “Jābir,” manuscript (B) adds: “And it is also narrated,” while (N) reads: “And it was also narrated.” Both phrases are extraneous and may be scribal errors. The lengthy hadith concerning the rites of Hajj mentioned by Ibn Taymiyya was narrated by Muslim, 2/886–893 (Book of Hajj, chapter “The Prophet’s Hajj—may Allah bless him and grant him peace”). The hadith states (p. 886): “… Hātim ibn Ismā'īl al-Madanī narrated to us, from Muhammad, from his father, who said: We visited Jābir ibn Abd Allah. He asked everyone who they were until he came to me. I said, ‘I am Muhammad ibn Alī ibn Husayn.’ He reached toward my head, unfastened my upper button and then my lower button, and placed his palm in the middle of my chest. I was then a young boy. He said, ‘Welcome, my nephew. Ask whatever you wish.’ I therefore questioned him, though he was blind…” The remainder of the hadith follows.
(3) Manuscripts (B) and (A) read: “Thirdly,” which is an error. Before this expression, manuscripts (A), (B), (N), and (M) contain the phrase: “And it is also narrated.” A blank space follows it in manuscripts (A) and (B).
(4) The words “apart from Alī—may Allah be pleased with him” are absent from manuscripts (B) and (A).
(5) Manuscript (N) reads: “He is the trustworthy servant,” which is a textual corruption.
(6) The words “and all praise is due to Allah” are absent from manuscripts (N) and (M). Manuscript (Ayn) reads: “So all praise is due to Allah.”
(7) Manuscript (N) reads: “distorted,” which is itself a textual corruption.